TORONTO – We do not have a presidential system of government in Canada. That said, it can be argued (and is) by political scientist that any Canadian Prime Minister, equipped with a majority in the House of Commons, has more power that any dictator.
Ministers hold their positions at his/her pleasure; Judicial appointments likewise (although they last until age 75); Deputy Ministers, the Foreign Service, Heads of Government Agencies – like the CBC, CRTC, Post Office, Regional Development etc. – are in a similar position. I could go on, but the examples would only underscore the fact that we would live under the bright lights of the “Sun King”.
That warmth does not last forever. The best before date rushes like an unstoppable tsunami destroying frail infrastructure before it and its wake.
If Canada is to survive, men and women of vision and strength need to emerge with the ability to verbalize a common set of goals and an infrastructure to ensure their sustainability, survivability, and growth. Everyone can be such a Prime Minister when the Sun is shining.
Donald Trump has emerged as the “cloud raining on our parade”. Is there a government program, an assumption of foundations for infrastructure projects anywhere in this country that is now outside its ability to reorganize? Sorry, that is a rhetorical question.
In this past week we have seen him undermine the “objectivity” of the Judiciary in the USA on questions of Immigration, Retribution/Rehabilitation, Legitimacy, and objectivity of bureaucracies. His pronouncements determine Guilt and the consequences attributable to it. He has declared war on progressivism and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).
He has begun to dismantle the national education “department” and with it the national goals of a common set of objectives promoting good citizenship, responsible economic objectives – personal and collective. In the case of schools and DEI he has set in motion a defunding process that will “starve” them (and their legal supporters) of the money to conduct their personal plans. Rather successfully, he is ensuring that “the American way” has been established by dint of hard work and ingenuity – qualities that are being compromised by “foreign elements” whose so-called competitive advantages are depriving America of its rightful revenue stream and access to markets globally.
The issue of tariffs will address both imbalances. Canada, the country most dependent on the American market, can try to guess which level of tariffs and duties are sufficient to keep Trump content. So far, the level is only constrained by the time of day one poses the question. If it is true that all politics is local, we would wise to keep in mind that Trump has a firm concept of what is local for him.
We, on the other hand, are squabbling over land rights, provincial authorities (over wood, minerals, water, control over fisheries etc.) and over-lapping authority on cross provincial mobility of resources – human and otherwise.
Luckily, Canada still has individuals willing to get beat up in the short term for the right to enunciate what or how best to work for collective interests. But, there is a cost; one that unveils itself daily like an onion being unpeeled.
